John Ashcroft and Academic Freedom You may feel that Dr, Dini's policy regarding recommendations is unethical--I do not, but I can see how reasonable people can come to a different conclusion. But I cannot see how the Justice Department can justify its interest here. A professor has the right to withhold a recommendation for any reason. An individual has no more right to a positive recommendation for grad school than he does to a date with a particular woman. If the professor genuinely believes that a particular belief will make a student a poor candidate for an advanced degree, then it is his professional responsibility not to provide a recommendation. A recommendation is a courtesy, provided to a good student that the professor knows reasonably well, not some God-given right. I love this quote from the article, "Just because someone believes in creationism doesn't mean he shouldn't give them a recommendation," said Lindsay Otoski, 20, a sophomore from Albuquerque who is studying nursing. 'It's not fair.' " Of course it isn't, it's life.
That the Justice Department would become involved in a professors personal decision to grant or not a recommendation is absolutely horrifying.
Professor's Snub of Creationists Prompts U.S. Inquiry. A biology professor who insists that his students accept the tenets of human evolution has found himself the subject of Justice Department scrutiny. By Nick Madigan. [New York Times: National]
6:44:34 AM 
|
|
